Ch.138Looming Dark Clouds (3)

As soon as they entered the southern continent, the Order that had raised Ser caught Durin’s eye first.

While it had been almost like a band of thieves when led by the previous Demon King Lucretia, that was no longer the case.

With fallen angels like Ursael at its center establishing doctrine and reorganizing the structure, it had achieved a sophistication that rivaled the Papal State. The biggest problem—the lack of followers—was resolved as war refugees flooded in. The human realm was supposed to follow only the God of Light, but continuous warfare had shattered that faith.

Above all, unlike the Templar Army that only hunted heretics during difficult times, the Order actively provided civilian support. This became possible because they had manpower to spare after Durin took over combat duties.

“Thank you. I will never forget the Order’s grace.”

“It is not the Order’s grace, but the blessing bestowed by the Mother of Night.”

“Mother of Night?”

“You don’t know yet, I see. The sister who was born and raised alongside the God of Light, back when he was still a child of the Creator God.”

Missionaries actively engaged in evangelism. There was no need to deceive people. They simply emphasized that death was not a punishment in their tired, worn lives.

“Death symbolizes tranquility. It’s about washing away worldly fatigue in the comfortable embrace of the Mother and falling into a deep sleep.”

“Is that really true?”

“If you live a worthwhile life, a warm death will surely come. However, if you have sinned, the Mother will reprimand you. So please, live a meaningful life.”

Unlike the prejudice against heretics threatened by the Papal State, the Order approached people gently. Typically, stories about demons claimed they would block one’s ears so angels couldn’t reach them, then tear them apart in eternal hell. The Order countered this with kindness and warmth.

“The Order. The Dark Order. Why ‘dark’?”

“Don’t you close your eyes when you sleep? They call that darkness. It’s also like saying peaceful serenity.”

“They’re not as harsh as I thought. There are hideous-looking demons, but they say those are punishment officers who deliver sentences to sinners.”

“Yes. They say they’re an army that came to punish the angels who deceived humans in this world created by the Creator God, and furthermore, killed those who didn’t believe in them by branding them as heretics.”

“Come to think of it, there’s not a single falsehood in that.”

Public opinion shifted favorably. With food to fill their stomachs and homes to rest in, people began contemplation. Many expressed anger at the tyranny of the Papal State. Particularly in the eastern regions, public sentiment turned against the generations of heretic hunts. Humans living in the southern continent strongly resisted because they had suffered greatly at the hands of the Crusaders and Templars.

“Punish the white wings!”

“They are frauds who deceived us!”

“Do you know how much suffering my family endured from the Crusaders! We will take it all back!”

When Durin’s forces entered the center of the Order along the main road, crowds gathered. Not for a triumphal procession, but to see the prisoners he had captured.

Outbursts of resentment erupted everywhere. The tender-hearted shed tears, while the angry threw stones. Some were so extreme that Durahan had to step in to restrain them, as their thirst for revenge was inflamed.

This was the sight the Regent had most wanted to see upon coming to the human realm.

The mere collapse of faith and resistance wasn’t enough. This display of primal emotions and rejection would become the foundation for what Durin was trying to build anew.

“People are gathering more and more. What should we do?”

“Place the prisoners in the square. Durahan and the Beast Cavalry will manage them until temporary holding facilities are designated. Chaphir, lead them.”

“I will follow your orders.”

Chaphir was briefly disappointed at not being able to accompany Durin to headquarters, but soon began to snicker at the deadpan expressions of the angels. There were long-standing grudges since the lands ruled by the Northern Great Warrior had once had friction with angels.

“Out of concern, I must say there should be no human casualties. They are bargaining chips for negotiations.”

“I understand, Your Excellency. I’ll just watch them.”

Chaphir, leading the guard, separated from the main force. The three thousand prisoners went with him. They were soon surrounded by the crowd. Though people didn’t throw stones or express their emotions violently, the quietly simmering anger began to pressure the prisoners.

“Berdia, follow me. You will accompany me to the Order’s headquarters.”

“I will serve you with all my heart and soul, Your Excellency!”

As Durin moved forward, Berdia followed enthusiastically behind.

#

“Another resounding victory, huh?”

“The sacrifices were just as great. We must prepare for when the angels make their next move.”

Ludmila welcomed him with a bright smile, but Durin’s expression remained stern. The joy of defeating Ruphiel was momentary. With many trials still ahead, he refused to act rashly.

“How boring. You’re like this again. Enjoy yourself sometimes.”

“I will do so after confirming the movements of the Archangel.”

“Tsk. Fine. I’ll give you the data observed by the Prophecy Witch at the Demon King’s Castle observatory.”

The table where the two commanders sat was piled high with parchments. After a moment of silence, Durin asked Ludmila:

“It seems the Archangel hasn’t moved yet.”

“What? Are you guessing correctly without even looking now?”

“We wouldn’t be talking so leisurely otherwise. If the Archangel were preparing to act, I would be greeting His Majesty here instead of you.”

“But there’s news that an Angel Commander has moved, so there’s something you should keep an eye on.”

Saying this, Ludmila unfolded a parchment. On it was drawn a blonde, stern-looking angel.

“War Commander Asriel. The figure who succeeded Azakiel, whom you faced last time, as War Commander.”

“Is there anything noteworthy about him?”

“There are no records. If he had engaged with our legions, there would surely be records, but the complete absence of any is problematic.”

Durin couldn’t understand. No information on someone who had risen to War Commander? It sounded like they had appointed someone who had never even held a sword. Though Heaven’s recent movements were strange, they weren’t crazy enough to do something like that.

An angel without combat experience could be explained at Ruphiel’s level. The Archangel who had led elite priest and holy knight divisions into battle had his neck ripped out by Durin without putting up much of a fight, so they needed someone who could at least be a match.

This brought him back to the initial point: the very fact that there were no battle records made no sense.

“Is this the Archangel’s choice?”

“Well, I heard Heaven usually forms a high committee, but looking at their recent behavior, it doesn’t seem good.”

“Given that Ruphiel, who was merely a secretary, led troops independently, the situation might be more serious than we thought.”

“Or it could all be part of the Archangel’s plan.”

Durin looked into Ludmila’s eyes. A fortune teller’s pupils would cloud when foreseeing the future. The Ludmila he saw wasn’t looking up at the night sky.

“You seem to lack strength.”

“Unlike you who flies around with divine power, I don’t. I held out against the Archangel’s secretary and his priest division. It was only possible because I mobilized the Demon Castle’s sorcery battalion.”

“That’s more than enough. Rest, Ludmila.”

Durin rose from his seat. Ludmila tilted her head.

“Huh? Didn’t you say you were planning for what’s next? Time is short, I should help too.”

“Complete health recovery is also important. The only force that can counter the priest division is the greatest sorcerer. You.”

“Really?”

The red-horned sorceress grinned. Perhaps because it was a rare compliment, her cheeks immediately lifted.

“I was pretty amazing, wasn’t I?”

“Ludmila.”

“Yes?”

“Learn humility. You used to demand seals during the regency, and even as the Demon Castle’s highest commander, you haven’t changed.”

A moment of silence passed. Ludmila’s smile froze as she stood there, internally wounded.

“You need to cool your head, Ludmila.”

“Y-yes.”

The usually confident Ludmila was subdued by his authority. Durin’s status was growing. Even those who had been his equals now sensed his divine aura and could no longer treat him casually.

“Then I’ll be going. I’ll check all the parchments in my office.”

With those words, Durin left the tent.

“Whew.”

Left alone, Ludmila slid down in her chair. If even high-ranking demons struggled to withstand his aura, lower demons wouldn’t dare raise their heads.

“Things are flowing according to the prophecy, but…”

The sorceress muttered. Her pupils clouded.

“The pace is too fast.”

#

There were days when they envisioned an unseen future.

This applied to both demons and the Order. Though a king sat on the throne and possessed a powerful army, it was like a mirage that could vanish at any moment.

The pain that children without a god must feel. Some felt warm love through faith, but for over a thousand years, orphans had to face a desolate plain.

“Have you heard the news? The Regent has finally done it.”

Unlike the human realm that couldn’t escape the flames of war, the demon realm had found peace.

Chief Justice Matheus, pacing in the garden of the Demon King’s Castle, delivered a monologue. Though no one was there to listen, the old demon didn’t mind.

“Looking back on the days we endured for victory, it’s moving.”

Having lived for ages, he was accustomed to conversing with the fallen. He looked up at the memorial erected in the center of the garden.

“It took a full thousand years. It took far too long to restore our past glory.”

Matheus stroked the stone with his hand. He felt the rough texture of the wedge-carved letters.

“Caldrag. The world you wanted has unfolded.”

He called the name of the resurgent Demon King who had once been praised as the one to reclaim Heaven, but ultimately failed and was swept away in battle—a tragic friend.

“Demons will rise again. With the return of the legion that defeated the angels, we can return to the homeland we’ve dreamed of.”

The war, which had lost its urgency and was carried on merely to fulfill ancestral wishes, had regained its driving force. The flame of hope, visible as a lamp, was reaching beyond the demon realm to the human world.

“Please watch over us.”

The Chief Justice lowered his posture. Instead of the scripture he always carried, he held a dagger. The plain, unadorned form gave off a strong iron smell. Though it seemed unimpressive as an offering to the former king, its meaning was significant.

“See what kind of being the warrior chosen by Dantalos becomes.”